One of the major vulnerabilities to viruses and other threats lies in web browsers. Even browser plugins are accompanied by security loopholes, as evident from F-Secure’s report on the bugs discovered in Java browser plugin and JRE (Java Runtime Environment).

And president of Tor, Roger Dingledine, reveals that outdated browsers can easily attract malware and other threats. The network that aims to keep the identity of web surfers anonymous has been a victim of cyber-attacks itself.

However, there are some measures you can take to increase web-browser security and limit chances of online security breaches. They include:

1. Disable Third-Party Flash Cookies

The majority of the internet surfers still use Adobe Flash, so it is important to make sure that thirty-party flash cookies have been deactivated. This option is directly available in flash player settings, but some advanced operating systems like Windows and Mac may require settings configuration through the Control Panel. And during the changes, it is recommended that you automate the update process of the OS.

2. Install A Reputable Browser Plugin

A credible plugin acts as an antivirus solution by protecting the browser from Hydraq, Aurora and other zero-day threats. Such offers are also able to analyze the behavior of the attacker(s) associated with the threats. Moreover, they rely on sophisticated technologies to prevent JavaScript malware. It is also important to note that regular updates of any plugin will provide you the best results.

3. Be Careful Of Autocomplete

The internet users who opt for autocomplete have grown in recent times. The process involves storing recently entered information, which includes social media credentials, previously visited websites and even personal financial information. Thankfully, you can delete individual autocomplete entries for certain websites (finance ones are recommended) while keeping the feature active for other websites.

4. Attain Self-Education On HTTPS

HTTPS will allow you to see whether a security of another website is properly working or otherwise. This extension ensures that users get connected with a secure HTTPs connection. Also, HTTPS doesn’t direct to HTTP, so its implementation can significantly increase the security of your web browser.

5. Modify Encryption Of Saved Passwords

Modern browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome include a syncing feature that allows you to save passwords and sync then with other devices and PCs. But the browsers only encrypt the data during the syncing process. This is potentially risky because anyone who gains access to a single password linked to your social account or email address can gain access to all the information.

An added measure of security in this case is to create a passphrase for encryption. You have to enter this passphrase as the second required piece of information to login securely.

6. Add a secondary browser

You may not find this tip elsewhere, but it can go a long way in adding to the security of the main browser. The secondary browser is the one that you can use for non-social media, finance or email activity. As the passwords are stored in the main browser, you can even afford visit sites that ask for your information or are potentially considered dangerous. Some of the examples include music download sites, sites that host unreleased game patches and movie download websites.

What steps have you taken to increase browser security? Feel free to leave comments.